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About Educators * Tools for Educators * Featured Educators

Many times, we are asked the following question by parents, "How can we know more about a certain Educator and get feedback from their classes?" For over a year now, Elaine, (our industrious Educator Coordinator) has been compiling Educator Feedback Reports from students and parents who have taken classes from various Educators. After an Educator's class was completed by a Learner, the family was asked questions such as,

"Did the class satisfy your purpose for taking the class?"

"What was the teaching style of the Educator?"

"Would you take another class from this Educator?"

and a host of other questions. After the school year, all of the reports were compiled into a single overall generic report for each Educator and class, and are now posted here and available for you to review. If you would like to see the details of a specific report, please contact Elaine at the office. Click on one of the links below to see a report.

Angela Toothaker: Civics
Beth Pertz: Reading
Buffy Zentmeyer: Piano & Voice
Carol Lamm: Algebra 1
Christine Bonnett: Writing
Cristen Chermak: Act Prep, Consumer Math, Piano, Speech, Writing
D'Ann Davis: Art
Dan Korow: Biology, Chemistry, General Science
Dick Nunamker: Biology, Entomology, Geography
Dolly Hill: Tutor
Dolores Wilson: Art
Dona Vidrine: Reading
Dorothy Allen: Tutor
Dottie Meehan: Piano Form
Gerry Lell: Writing
Jason Gressman: Hands On Science, Outdoor Skills , Photography
John Copper: Math Tutor
Julie Mulford: Act Prep, Algebra 1, Hands on Science, Math Lab
Kathy Gates: Animal Science, Environmental Science
Laura Peck: Art, Cooking, Piano, Sign Language
Leanne Fuller: Home Economics
Linda Dysart: Dance
Liz Ackerman: Making Dollars from Sense
Lorena Gladding: Sewing
Lowell Golden: Math
Mike Ackerman: History
Mike Bollig: Drivers Ed
Nora Resz: Spanish
Paul Frazier: Choir, Guitar
Paula Irving: Writing
Trona Denny & Jennifer Quinn: Journalism
Willow Moreland: Tutor

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Anyone can be an Educator. The simplest way to become an Educator is to be hired by a VISION HCP Learner and family. A more formal way is to come by the VISION HCP office and pick up an Educator packet. The packet describes the role in more detail and provides the office with relevant information in order to list the person as an Educator. Most important is the person's full name, birth date, and social security number. We need this information to complete an Avert Background Check to screen for past offences against children and episodes involving physical harm. Once the background check is done, the Educator is free to submit flyers in our Educator notebook and have his or her name listed in the Educator List. Parents of Learners in the program can be Educators too. However, they cannot be paid for teaching their own children.

See Educator Information, Educator Application Part I and Part II, and Background Check Policy included with this packet.

Educators provide settings where students learn skills under their supervision. The Educator and student will develop an agreement that clearly defines all goals and expectations for the learning process in accordance with the Learner Learning Plan. The Educator plans the classes or instruction for the Learner. All skills being taught and pursued will be related to students goals. The Educator will also support the Learners with their portfolio or in documenting their learning. Some options for documentation are:

1. a written statement in the form of course description and comments about the Learner
2. a letter of recommendation
3. a discussion with the mentor or RC (after which the RC will make note of the discussion in the learning update)
4. assist the Learner in choosing a piece for the portfolio
5. assist the Learner in writing a description of what occurred during their time together

See the Learner Information and Educator/Learner Agreements Form included with this packet.

Evaluation and Accountability: At the conclusion of each Educator/Learner agreement, Learners are encouraged to complete the Educator Feedback Form and return it to the VISION HCP office. The staff will summarize the evaluations for the Educator to review. Also other Learners can refer to these summaries as well. Potential Learners may call former students to inquire about the Educator. Ultimately, the Educator is accountable to the Learner and parents who decide whether or not to continue working with the Educator.

See Educator Feedback Form included with this packet.

Contact Information: There is a list of Educators at the VISION HCP offices and on the VISION Coalition Website.

Exit: If the Educator does not want to work with Learners anymore, then he or she needs to let the VISION HCP office know so that his or her name can be taken off the list.

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Click Here to see or print the Toolkit Packet for Educators from our Forms page

Click Here to see or print an Educator Invoice from our Forms page

AMY PERKINS

Amy Perkins came to the Delta Vision Program the latter part of the school year last year with a desire to offer younger Learners fun, craft type opportunities. She taught
several Wednesday classes and decided to offer an ongoing class this year – The
Kindergarten Club. Her daughter, Charley, is a part of that class. The fire station
brought one of their fire trucks for the Learners to see for one of her regular classes in
September and they had close to 30 Vision Learners take part that day!

Amy is a Delta native, and graduated from Delta High School. After high school she attended the Utah College of Massage Therapy and practiced massage therapy for
several years. She, her husband Jeff, and daughters Rian and Charley enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities including snowmobiling and 4-wheeling. Since Western Colorado has so many beautiful areas to visit, they are usually out exploring and enjoying family time most weekends.

Amy got involved with Vision when her daughter Rian became one of our Learners 4 years ago. Rian has been involved with every kind of schooling available and has come to realize Vision seems to meet her needs best. Amy’s youngest daughter Charley, came into Vision as one of our Kindergarteners this year so Amy decided it was time for her to get involved as well. We appreciate Amy and what she brings to our Educator Network!!

RICK TROUTMAN

Rick Troutman is a new Educator to the Delta Vision Program. He teaches the Personalized Welding Instruction class and customizes it to each individual learner’s
needs. He is doing a Wednesday Class on October 8th in an open house format to enable Learners to come in and visit with him personally, to get an idea if a career in welding would be a good choice for them.

Rick grew up in Hayden Colorado and now resides in Montrose. He has been married for 20 years and has two children, a son 14 years old and a daughter 11. Rick graduated from one of the Hobart Welding Institute’s welding programs in 1984 as a Certified Structural & Heavy Wall Pipe Welder. For over 20 years he has been active in
training, fabrication, customer tech support, and welding sales in which he dealt with
public schools, public works departments, missionary organizations and homeschool
families. Rick has a heart for kids who are searching for their place in life. He enjoys
working with the whole family and training them the art of welding. He shared with me the huge and growing need for welders worldwide and what an opportunity it can be for a Learner interested in this field. We are excited to have Rick in our Delta Vision Educator Network!

ANNALEE COUCH

Annalee was a new Educator to Delta Vision last spring. She originally heard about Vision from her grandmother in 2006 when she moved to the Delta area. Last spring one of our moms had heard about Annalee’s art abilities and asked her to teach an art class for her child.

Annalee grew up in Colorado and went to high school in Calhan. After graduation she went to Northeastern Junior College in Sterling for Equine Sciences where she also rode race horses. She then moved to Florida and began doing some traveling, seeing the states between here and Florida. Later Annalee went to Edison College in Fort Myers Florida where she received her AS degree in Business Administration and an AA
degree in Art. She then went to Florida Gulf Coast University and got her BA in Elementary Education.

Annalee moved her family to Delta in 2006 and got a job teaching art at Delta Middle School. She has four children, three girls and a boy ages 16, 15, 7 and 5. Her passions are her Lord, her children, and art. She loves art because of the avenue it gives for individual expression and the fact there is no right or wrong to what is done. We are thrilled to have Annalee as part of our Educator Network!!

NICOLE GOFF

Nicole is a new Educator to the Delta Vision Program this year. She recently moved to the Hotchkiss area and found out about our program through a teacher at Cedaredge Elementary. She thought VISION sounded like an interesting program, so she called and signed up to be an Educator.

Nicole lived her whole life in Austin, Texas. After graduating from high school, she went to college in Texas and received her BA in Psychology. She continued her education and received her Elementary Education Certification and her Masters in Counseling.

Nicole’s sister had moved to the Hotchkiss area and she came to visit several times and loved the area. Nicole decided our area would be a great place to raise her son Rhyle, who is now 3, so she moved here as well. She has adjusted well to our rural area and has gotten involved with several different programs for preschool parents where she has met some new friends.

Nicole loves the outdoors, riding ATVs, camping, fishing and reading! Her passion is teaching children to read and write and believes in child-centered learning, where a child should be given many opportunities to succeed and grow. Another passion is spending time with Rhyle. She is planning to offer some classes next fall as well as
teach some Wednesday Classes for us! We are pleased to welcome Nicole into our Educator Network!!

JULIE MULFORD

Julie found out about the Vision Program accidentally when, several years ago, a friend asked her to tutor her children who were in our program. The more she learned about the program, the more interesting it sounded, and learners continued to come to her for
tutoring. She later contacted the program and became an educator. She has since taught several math classes, ACT Prep, Hands on Science and a program sponsored math lab where Learners can come in any time during class sessions for help. She loves her classes at VISION and is very strong willed with her Learners; she gives mid-terms regardless of their pleading.

Julie grew up in Orem, Utah and is the oldest of five children. Her mother told her she was a bit bossy, but she likes to think of it as natural leadership ability! She went to college for a Microbiology / Medical Technology degree with a minor in Chemistry. Julie is highly qualified in Science and Math. She is married and has five children, one dog, three cats and multiple fish. She says they are all busy, even the fish!

Julie’s passions are first, her children, then photography, cross country skiing, hiking, the tenor saxophone, piano and math! She hates invoices and receipts!!

Thanks Julie, you are wonderful addition to our program.

GERRY LELL

Submitted by Reilly Quist (6th grade)

Gerry Lell is a stellar person. In 2002 he retired from Chatfield Elementary in Grand Junction where he was worked as a reading specialist, gifted and talented teache, and a special education teacher. He moved to Delta because he wanted a place in the country where it was quiet. He found a farm where he lives with his two cats. Then, he came to work at Vision and teaches writing and guitar with writing being his
favorite to teach.

Mr. Lell grew up in Denver and went to West High School. His favorite memory from childhood was riding trains. Mr. Lell went to three different colleges. First, he went to Colorado University where he earned a degree in Psychology. He then went to Metro State College and earned a degree in Elementary Education. Last, he went o Eastern New Mexico University where he earned a Masters degree in Special Education. In his spare time, he became active in public radio as an announcer, producer and programmer. He also is a published writer and photographer.

Some interesting things about Mr. Lell are that he likes music, reading, hiking and bird watching. If he could pick any place in the world to live he would pick a place close to the ocean and the mountains. He also has a brother and a sister who are twins. If he could spend a day with any person dead or alive he would spend it with the musician Neil Young. I really like taking classes from Mr. Lell because he teaches you a lot while
still being amiable and fun!

DICK NUNAMAKER

Dick came to the Delta Vision program 5 ½ years ago as a Resource Consultant and Educator. He has also served on the Board of Stewards for 3 years and has been our Guidance Specialist for 2 years. He is teaching several classes this year including Geography, Intro to Entomology, Beekeeping for Fun and Profit and his ever famous Please Pass the Bugs.

Dick grew up in Youngstown Ohio and graduated from high school in 1969. He went to Miami University in Ohio to do his undergraduate studies and in 1975 went to Greeley to get his Masters Degree in Biological Sciences. In 1977 he moved to Laramie, Wyoming to work on his PHD. He accomplished that in 1980 and received his Doctorate in Entomology. He stayed in Laramie and worked for a USDA honeybee lab.

With his wife Vickie, Dick bought land in Cedaredge in 1993 and in 2000 left Laramie and moved to Cedaredge to retire and start a vineyard. When Dick saw the ad in the DCI for Resource Consultants he thought it looked interesting and since he wanted to stay involved in the educational system, he decided to apply.

Dick enjoys photography, fly fishing, cross country skiing and gardening. It is also gratifying for him to help Learners realize their dreams after they leave Vision. The Guidance Counselor position has helped him do that. He has a secret fondness for Hot Tamales on Fridays and Reeses Pieces.

Over the past five years, Dick’s kindness, generosity and positive energy has impacted dozens and dozens of Learners and Families as well as the VISION staff, building and campus. Many thanks to his dedication and many, many hours of hard work.

JASON GRESSMAN

Jason is a new Educator with us this year. This next semester he will be taking over the Hands on Science Classes. He plans on adding some additional classes to accommodate Kindergarten through 8th grade. He will also be teaching Photography and Outdoor Skills, plus various Wednesday Classes.

Jason grew up in Montrose and graduated from Montrose High School. He was huge into sports including football, basketball and baseball. He grew up with one brother and his family spent their time hunting, fishing and camping.

In college, Jason studied Mass Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations. He is married to Andrea, one of Delta VISION’S Resource Consultants. They have three boys: 8 years, 2 years and 3 months. Andrea and Jason went all through school together and even started out in day care together!! They got involved in Vision two years ago when they moved here from Alaska where they had been homeschooling. They realized when they started their oldest son, Cale, in conventional school, he was bored and they needed to do something to keep him interested. They feel privileged to be a part of a program such as VISION.

Jason’s passion is to pass his love for the outdoors on to his boys. Our Vision Learners are benefiting from his passion as well!

LESLYE COLEMAN

Leslye is one of our brand new Educators this school year. She came to us as a recommendation from a parent who wanted their daughter to take cake decorating. So far cake decorating is the only class Leslye is teaching however she has other ideas brewing for next semester.

Leslye grew up in Montrose and in her words "life was a breeze". She went to Western State College in Gunnison and got her degree in Elementary Education. She later married and has 5 children, 17 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Her family enjoyed camping, fishing, hiking and baking at Christmas and sharing their goodies with the neighbors.

Leslye has been a cake decorator for 45 years and 36 of those years she has worked professionally. She currently teaches cake decorating at the Delta-Montrose Technical College as well. Leslye has several passions which include (of course) cake decorating, crocheting, embroidering, carving ostrich eggs, and teaching children’s church. She feels you never know it all - everyday is a learning experience. She feels grateful to be able to teach Learners a skill that is fun but also something they will be able to make a living at down the road. We will be excited to see what other class ideas Leslye has for next semester!

MIKE ACKERMAN

Mike has been involved in the Delta Vision Office for two years now. He is currently teaching a "History’s Mysteries and Surprises" class and taught a Mime class for one of our Wednesday classes. He grew up in Lake Orion, Michigan on an island. Water was his life and he didn’t realize until going to college, that others didn’t know how to swim and enjoy the water like he did.

Mike got his B.A. in Theatre Arts at Kalamazoo College in Michigan and took some education classes to become a teacher. After doing his student teaching he decided public school wasn’t for him.

Mike likes history and caves. He is drawn to subjects people back away from and likes to get Learners to ask questions like “What really did happen?” and learn for themselves.

LIZ ACKERMAN

Liz started working with the Delta Vision Office the same time her husband Mike did. She currently teaches "Making Dollars from $ense" and various Wednesday classes. Liz grew up in Michigan also and enjoys water sports as well.

Liz got her B.A. in Biology at Kalamazoo College in Michigan and worked for the Park Service in Estes Park as a Naturalist. She and Mike got married and now have 6 children ranging from 12 to 25 yrs and felt very strongly they wanted to homeschool. When they began homeschooling they lived in Summit County and several times were turned into Social Services and ended up with the Truant Officer on their doorstep. They heard Montrose was much more homeschool friendly and ended up moving there and found work. Their older children have gone on to college and four have received college degrees.

Liz enjoys teaching, learning, gardening and singing as a family! We are thankful they found VISION and joined our team.

LORENA GLADDING

Lorena Gladding became an active Educator last year when she began teaching a variety of sewing classes. This year she is offering a Tea Party class, sewing, photography and cake decorating for starters!

Lorena grew up in the San Francisco area and her love for sewing began when she designed and made clothes for her Barbie. She sewed them all by hand, but the designs were intricate with tucks and lace added in. She even designed and made couches and chairs for her Barbie. Today Lorena sews for her children, especially her daughter Sarah who has her own style of clothing that she likes.

Lorena has a bachelor's degree in Business Marketing. She lives with her husband and two children in Montrose. Lorena got involved with Vision when her daughter decided she wanted to be home schooled. That was the year the Delta Vision office allowed out of county Learners. Now her son and daughter are both Learners in our office. As a family, they enjoy playing tennis and water and snow skiing.

Lorena's passion is creating and sharing how to make things without having to have a lot of hours of training. She says, "Kids like to have success immediately without so much skill." Her joy is in inspiring others to create and giving them the opportunities to expand their skills and be successful.

Thanks Lorena for your dedication to our Learners!